16.3 Description of the Fishing Activity
16.3.1 Target Species
The main target species of the purse seine fishing fleet in the Alboran Sea are sardine
and anchovy. Less relevant species are horse mackerel Trachurus spp., mackerel
Scomber spp., and gilt sardine Sardinella aurita (Fig. 16.2). These species sometimes comprise a large proportion of the total catch. Seasonal catches of frigate
mackerel Auxis rochei (Risso 1810), Atlantic bonito Sarda sarda (Bloch 1793), and
Atlantic saury Scomberesox saurus (Walbaum 1792) are of great importance in the
most eastern ports, thus differentiating the purse seining activity according to base
port.
Anchovy and sardine species are short-lived coastal pelagic fish (anchovy,
3–4 years maximum, and sardine, 7–8 years maximum). These species are characterized by seasonal migrations, fast growth, early maturity, and shoaling. Both
species feed on plankton (Yebra et al. 2019). Anchovies spawn in the northern
Alboran during spring-summer (Giráldez and Abad 1995) and sardines during
autumn-winter (Abad and Giráldez 1992).
This overview of fishery activity mainly focuses on anchovy and sardine species,
whose catches have strongly varied over time. Of the two species, anchovies are the
most valuable in the current market; nonetheless, the fishery activity is strongly
complemented by catches of sardine because it is the most abundant species.
In addition, some purse seine bycatch species have recently found a place in the
market. For example, mackerel species are mainly used for tuna fattening, and gilt
sardines are used for bait. These species have high yields per night of fishing. Horse
mackerel is exported to Portugal when they are abundant. These secondary species
represent 50% of landings and 30% of overall economic value.
Due to variable annual recruitment, the small pelagic populations experience
strong fluctuations in abundance, which leads to fishing crises because of the lack
of fish.
16.3.2 Methods and Fishing Gears
Small pelagic fish inhabit open waters and form shoals. They are fished using a purse
seine boat (“Traíña” in Spanish), an auxiliary boat, and a light boat (Fig. 16.3).
Purse seine fishing gear comprises a rectangular net which is lowered vertically,
thus surrounding the shoal, and ends in some triangular parts called “puños” (Abad
and Giráldez 1990a). When the shoal is completely surrounded, the lower part is
closed to avoid escaping and to catch the fish and then lifted back into the boat.
Spanish legislation defines the technical characteristics of these fishing gears, which
can be up to 450 m long by 82 m high (Fig. 16.4).
562
A. Giráldez
16.3.1 Target Species
The main target species of the purse seine fishing fleet in the Alboran Sea are sardine
and anchovy. Less relevant species are horse mackerel Trachurus spp., mackerel
Scomber spp., and gilt sardine Sardinella aurita (Fig. 16.2). These species sometimes comprise a large proportion of the total catch. Seasonal catches of frigate
mackerel Auxis rochei (Risso 1810), Atlantic bonito Sarda sarda (Bloch 1793), and
Atlantic saury Scomberesox saurus (Walbaum 1792) are of great importance in the
most eastern ports, thus differentiating the purse seining activity according to base
port.
Anchovy and sardine species are short-lived coastal pelagic fish (anchovy,
3–4 years maximum, and sardine, 7–8 years maximum). These species are characterized by seasonal migrations, fast growth, early maturity, and shoaling. Both
species feed on plankton (Yebra et al. 2019). Anchovies spawn in the northern
Alboran during spring-summer (Giráldez and Abad 1995) and sardines during
autumn-winter (Abad and Giráldez 1992).
This overview of fishery activity mainly focuses on anchovy and sardine species,
whose catches have strongly varied over time. Of the two species, anchovies are the
most valuable in the current market; nonetheless, the fishery activity is strongly
complemented by catches of sardine because it is the most abundant species.
In addition, some purse seine bycatch species have recently found a place in the
market. For example, mackerel species are mainly used for tuna fattening, and gilt
sardines are used for bait. These species have high yields per night of fishing. Horse
mackerel is exported to Portugal when they are abundant. These secondary species
represent 50% of landings and 30% of overall economic value.
Due to variable annual recruitment, the small pelagic populations experience
strong fluctuations in abundance, which leads to fishing crises because of the lack
of fish.
16.3.2 Methods and Fishing Gears
Small pelagic fish inhabit open waters and form shoals. They are fished using a purse
seine boat (“Traíña” in Spanish), an auxiliary boat, and a light boat (Fig. 16.3).
Purse seine fishing gear comprises a rectangular net which is lowered vertically,
thus surrounding the shoal, and ends in some triangular parts called “puños” (Abad
and Giráldez 1990a). When the shoal is completely surrounded, the lower part is
closed to avoid escaping and to catch the fish and then lifted back into the boat.
Spanish legislation defines the technical characteristics of these fishing gears, which
can be up to 450 m long by 82 m high (Fig. 16.4).
562
A. Giráldez